Can I Get Fired for Being Sick in Georgia?

While some states mandate that employers provide a certain number of paid or unpaid sick leave for employees per year, Georgia – at least in the private sector – is not among them. Public employees accrue five hours of sick leave per pay period by law, but employees of private employers are entitled to no…

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Report Finds Walmart Punishes Employees Who Take Leave

A recent study revealed a troubling finding – that the nation’s largest private employer may be punishing employees who lawfully take “sick days” or leave.  Such actions may violate worker’s rights under the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). According to the report, issued by A Better Balance, and referenced in…

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Can I Be Fired While on FMLA Approved Leave?

The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) extends a variety of protections and rights to many employees, salaried or hourly. It can grant a total of 12 months of unpaid leave after an employee or a close family member suffers a serious health condition or injury, or to care for a newborn. The concept behind the…

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I Need More than 12 Weeks of FMLA Leave! What Do I Do?

Employers in every state are required under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to provide their employees the opportunity to take unpaid leave for medical, military, and maternity/paternity reasons. Employees who take this time are entitled to have their positions reinstated upon their return. How Many Weeks of FMLA Can You Take? Employees…

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Are You An Employee Or Independent Contractor?

How workers are classified – whether they are considered to be employees or independent contractors, exempt or non-exempt – is often the starting point for many employment discrimination lawsuits. Understanding your proper classification is the first step in knowing your rights and remedies under the law. In a recent disability discrimination lawsuit, a pathologist sued the…

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Company Ordered To Pay Double Damages For Interfering With Worker’s Right To Take Leave

Under several circumstances federal law requires that your employer allow you to take approved leave. These include taking leave to care for a new baby or a family member with a serious health condition. Additionally, if you have a serious health condition the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides that employers must allow eligible employees to…

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Pre-Eligibility Requests For Leave May Give Rise To Claims Of Retaliation in Pereda v. Brookdale Senior Living Cmtys. Inc.

In the first case of its kind, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, which includes Georgia, Alabama and Florida, considered what actions are considered protected by the Family and Medical Leave Act. Specifically in Pereda v. Brookdale Senior Living Cmtys. Inc., the appellate court reviewed whether an employee who made a “pre-eligibility” request…

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